Biography
Paul McDonnell is a dedicated artist and educator with an abiding passion for stop-motion animation. He has 28 years of experience in the film and animation industry
and has worked on many different aspects of production, including art direction, props, modelmaking, set creation, and puppetry.
Paul strives to create emotionally rich worlds through animation which can utilize the
wealth of animation talent in Ireland. His credits include the award-winning film Ape by Treasure Films, and his role as Creative Director for the IFTA-nominated Nana Dee. He has collaborated on notable projects such as Telegael & Calon co-
productions ‘Igam Ogam’ and ‘Captain Morten and the Spider Queen’, Cardel Entertainment ‘Rerouted and Drawn Together’ and Elk Studio's ‘Cliodhna - Queen of the Banshees” for RTE's A Breath of Fresh Scare. Most recently, Paul collaborated with Matchbox Mountain as Art Director to create the RTE Toy Show's Christmas Idents.
Beyond his practical contributions, Paul has dedicated 22 years to sharing his knowledge and skills as a lecturer at IADT. His guidance has nurtured numerous students in the art form, enabling them to excel in their craft. His passion for animation extends beyond teaching. He founded Stiúideo Fia in the West of Ireland to foster the growth of the animation industry and provide specialized training in stop-motion animation. His commitment to his craft is evident in his work on the recent
horror feature Oddity and the creation of large-scale puppets for world-renowned, Spectacle Arts company Macnas.
